First of all - I have not ridden a rally. I wanted to try out the NW Rally - Thanks Covid.
Prior to the border lockdown - I rode my 2017 FLHXSE on the I-5 Gold, and a Looooooong tour from Vancouver, BC, to Carlsbad, Vegas, NOLA, Daytona, Philidelphia. After a car rental to Boston, flew home, returned to the motorcycle stored for 40 days, Rode to Williamburg, Nashville, Cleveland, Ottawa [ONT], Milwaukee, Golden, Back to LVNV, and home to Vancouver.
All this with the M8 Motor.
I think the twin cooled works pretty well. The FLHXSE had Fullsac headers and the modded baffles with 2.0", a K&N filter, and TTS Tuner. Stock cam. With HD Dunlop Tires I usually get 20,000 km rear and 40,000 front.
No issues with heating - [cat converter aside]. But the twin cooling requires lowers. That puts you in the Limiteds. So now you need a fairing.
I've rented a Road Glide, but don't care for the side wind problems. In a headwind it's awesome. Lane splitting is a little interesting.
I've since traded in that 2017 as I never bought the tourpak, and it was 70,000 km [still lots left] and my wife said to try the FLHTKSE. I got a tourpak with electric locks, +1" suspension [which sucks for my short legs], and a reset odometer. It's done one SS1000 on the summer solstice this year.
I still own my 2009 FLHX and it is air and oil-cooled. I messed around with the engine, and it started at 96". The 96" was cammed and TTS tuned. Then I installed a 120R. It blew
thrice. It ended its life as a 124R. I bought an S&S 124 LC. It blew at 7500 km. S&S warrantied it, but I sold it new in the box. I've reinstalled the 96" and my wife did the above-mentioned ride [tour..?] with it and an additional sidecar. that 96"
can do 75 mph with the sidecar [and little dog] but DRINKS the fuel. My point is, mechanically had I left the damn thing alone - it'd be fine...
I think Harley-Davidson is the right motorcycle for the right person as
@BigLew55 and
@cacomly mentioned. If going M8 powerplant, I'd think the twin cooled. I might also consider some fans. I have the jugs version, which has been good to me, except for a mount departure in Wyoming.
I've not ridden an FJR, BMW, or GW. My first motorcycle was a Kawasaki VN900. It had plastic engine components and fenders. It was underpowered as a 900, and I rode it a month. I sold it -
three- years later and had to pay $2800 to be rid of it. I'm not a fan of that.
Yeah - Harley-Davidson has a motor clothes division. I get that. But it also has a dealer network that you can't swing a dead cat and not hit a Harley-Davidson dealership.
You do what you think, but I know Harley-Davidson is my brand of choice. Also, I have too many t-shirts to change now. [ha ha].
Harry